Since the Mitsubishi Evolution made its debut to the United States in 2003, enthusiasts have flocked to the car to make big horsepower numbers, set track records, and ultimately keep Mitsubishi alive. With many new Evo owners being former DSM owners, the concentration was clearly more on going fast rather than making the car look pretty, thus seeing Evos at car shows in the Pacific Northwest was a rare sight. After about two years of near-absence from the car show scene, Evos gradually started to make their presence felt around 2005. Among these Evo trendsetters was Alan Whitright, the owner of a white 2005 Mitsubishi Evolution 8 MR.

Not wasting time with modifying his car, Alan quickly started off with the power mods, but he kept goal in mind: make the maximum amount of power possible while still using the stock turbo. Utilizing the building skills of World One Performance and the tuning expertise of English Racing, Alan’s car reaches close to 400 wheel-horsepower. With his current power goals accomplished, Alan gradually added suspension, chassis, and brake modifications, along with exterior accents to help make his car stand out for car shows. He was invited to join the Project One car club in the middle of the entire process and took home a good number of class trophies as a Project One member. To help guide us through his car and thought process, we caught up with Alan for some quick questions and answers.

NWMotiv: Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule. Let’s start off with letting us know how you first got into cars.

Alan: C’mon, I’m really not THAT busy, but you’re welcome. Anyway, my dad got me into cars when I was really young. Watching him work on his muscle cars always sparked my interest and I when I got older, working on them with him was always fun. That made me get into them and when I started, I couldn’t stop working on them and looking at different ways to make them better.

NWMotiv: You seem to be quite the Mitsubishi fanatic. How did that start out? And is that Mitsubishi tattoo real?

Alan: Haha, yes I am! Ever since I saw an Evo 6 in the WRC Championship, I knew I wanted to get one. After all, it was my dream car. When I was 16, my friend’s brother had one of the first Evo 8s in the country and he let me drive it…that made my decision on what to get final. And yes, I do have a Mitsubishi tattoo, that’s how much I love them.

NWMotiv: That sure is a lot of love! I suppose that means you’re involved in the Mitsubishi community. How has the Mitsubishi community been for you?

Alan: They have been good. Almost all of them have been great to me and I have met a lot of cool people. Some of them are good friends now and I wish I had more time to spend with them, but work doesn’t allow for it. Oh well, that’s life!

NWMotiv: So instead of staying with your fellow Evo brethren at car shows, you went and joined a primarily Subaru-based car club. How exactly did that work out?

Alan: Hahaha it worked out great. They are some of the best people I have met in life. They have been supportive of everything I have done and I don’t care about the Subaru rivalry bull. I respect them all and have fun hanging out with them, plus it doesn’t really matter to me…haha. The shop I take my car to is mainly all Subarus anyways.

NWMotiv: I guess that all works out then! Speaking of modifying your car, how would you describe your modding philosophy when it comes to your car?

Alan: I would say I like to go more of all around instead of focusing on one thing, like the engine or body. I feel like that if you building a show car, it should be done as all around, a little here, a little there.

NWMotiv: Your car definitely has a good balance. What are your goals for your car at this point? Any major future modifications soon?

Alan: Well, my plans with it are to do more shows if we get them here, but I am looking at going towards time attack. I love racing and the adrenaline rush I get. For future mods, well maybe a new turbo, but definitely a full roll cage and motor build.

NWMotiv: Sounds pretty ambitious! We wish you the best of luck with that. What have other people thought about your car? Are you receptive to their comments or do you just do your own thing?

Alan: I think everyone I have talked to has only had positive comments about my car. As for people who make negative comments about my car, I take them in, but in the end it’s what I decide to do on the car and it’s what I think that truly counts.

NWMotiv: Makes sense to us. You mentioned the Evo was your dream car earlier: if you could trade your car right now as it is for any other car, what would it be and why?

Alan: I wouldn’t trade it for anything! I have my dream car now.

NWMotiv: We love the enthusiasm! Now, it’s time for the LIGHTNING ROUND! We’ll start with Varis or Voltex?

Alan: Varis.

NWMotiv: Marvel or DC?

Alan: DC.

NWMotiv: AMS or ETS?

Alan: ETS.

NWMotiv: Mariners or Sonics?

Alan: Mariners all the way, and don’t you mean the Thunder now?

NWMotiv: OUCH, sore spot! We’ll let that slide for now…drift or drag?

Alan: Drift.

NWMotiv: Modern Warfare 2 or Bad Company 2?

Alan: Modern Warfare 2 FTW!

NWMotiv: Indoor or outdoor car show?

Alan: Outdoor.

NWMotiv: Peter Venkman or Egon Spengler?

Alan: Peter Venkman.

NWMotiv: Bobby Light or Dick-in-a-Box?

Alan: Bobby Light Bobby Light!

NWMotiv: Haha, nice singing voice. Now it’s time for some shout-outs.

Alan: I’d like to make a shout-out and thank you to Project One, World One Performance, English Racing, my family and friends, but my dad most of all since he couldn’t be here to build this car with me.

NWMotiv: Great, thanks again Alan. We wish you the best of luck in the future with your car!

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